Sporting Lisbon failed to spread festive cheer on Christmas Day when they sacked coach Joao Pereira, just over a month after he replaced Ruben Amorim.
Pereira, 40, was a former full-back who enjoyed three different spells playing for the club.
After retiring, Pereira went on to train with the Portuguese side, spending two years in charge of their Under-23 team, before being promoted to manage Sporting's reserve team at the start of this season.
However, the 40-year-old won just three of his eight games in charge after taking control of the first team on 11 November, suffering a particularly tough and damaging 5-1 home defeat to Arsenal in the Premier League. Champions.
In fact, Pereira became the first Sporting coach in history to lose four of his first five games as manager, although his team had shown signs of turning things around with a three-game unbeaten run heading into Christmas.
However, this did not save Pereira, as the club announced the news of his dismissal with a brief statement at 11:54 p.m. on Christmas Day.
Sporting Lisbon fired coach Joao Pereira, who replaced Rubén Amorim, on Christmas Day
Pereira had moved to the Sporting bench after Amorim's emotional departure to Man United
Sporting's form had suffered a dramatic dip as they won three of eight matches against Pereira.
'A Lion forever. Thank you, João Pereira,' he said.
Pereira's appointment came after Amorim left the club last month to replace Erik ten Hag at Manchester United.
During his tenure, Amorim secured Sporting's first league title in more than two decades before repeating the feat last season as speculation linking him with a move to the Premier League intensified.
Sporting were leaders of the Portuguese league at the time of Amorim's departure and second in the Champions League phase.
However, under Pereira, they have fallen to second place nationally, one point behind rivals Benfica, while Sporting are now 17th in Europe's elite club competition, having also suffered a defeat against Club Brugge.
This means they find themselves in a battle to qualify for the last 16, which comes after Amorim led them to three wins in their first four games, including a famous 4-1 triumph against Man City.
Before Christmas, reports circulated in the Portuguese media that Pereira was under pressure, although it was claimed that club bosses would meet him after the Christmas break.
Meanwhile, Amorim has had a mixed start to his life at Old Trafford over the last month and a half.
Despite signing a contract until 2027, Pereira was dismissed from Sporting yesterday at 11:54 p.m.
The news was announced in a brief statement that said: 'A León forever, thank you Joao'
Amorim's presence has been missed in Lisbon, but he has had a mixed start at United
After winning just one of his first four Premier League games at the club, Amorim led United to a dramatic victory in the Manchester derby against bitter rivals City earlier this month.
However, any hopes that the result would serve as a turning point for what has been the club's worst start to a Premier League campaign were quickly dashed.
On Sunday, United were comprehensively beaten by Bournemouth, with the Cherries winning 3-0, meaning the 39-year-old has won four, lost four and drawn one of his nine games since swapping Lisbon for Manchester.
After Bournemouth's defeat, Amorim insisted there was “anxiety” among his team, but vowed to persevere in his tactical rebuild.
“Right now, everything is very difficult,” Amorim said. “For a club like Manchester United to lose 3-0 at home is very hard for everyone.
'The fans are really disappointed and tired. You feel in the stadium on the first play. I understand it, but we have to face it. I felt it from the first minute, there is a lot of anxiety.
“Everyone at the club is tired of these moments. We have to face it and focus on the next game.”
United return to action on Boxing Day when they take on Wolves, while Sporting host Benfica on December 29.